The episode explains why scale-ups must shift from ad-hoc IP management to a continuous IP management system that grows with the company. It highlights the common gap between rapid technological expansion and insufficient internal IP processes, which leads to missed patenting opportunities, know-how leakage and unnecessary infringement risks. It describes how continuous IP management embeds invention disclosure, documentation and protectability checks into regular development cycles, supported by clear roles and communication between engineering, management and IP/legal teams. The episode shows how linking IP assets to product features and business goals strengthens investor confidence. Finally, it illustrates these principles with case studies such as Graphcore, Lumicks and Skeleton Technologies, showing how strong, systematic IP management directly shapes partnerships and competitive positioning.
